Sinn Féin Councillor and Árd Chomhairle member Martin Ferris this afternoon that his party would enter negotiations due to begin in London tomorrow as the "most dynamic political force on this island" and with a "strengthened hand".
Speaking at Sinn Féin's annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration in Sallins, Co Kildare,Mr Ferris said: "Irrespective of who is part of the UUP negotiations team or irrespective of what parties are in attendance theprimary responsibility for saving the peace process and saving the Good Friday Agreement rests with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"These negotiations are crucial and will deal with policing, demilitarisation, the stability of the political institutions and the issue of arms.
"On Policing we need legislative changes to ensure democratic accountability, freedom from partisan political control, a human rights culture and to ensure that it is representative of the community it serves.
"We will demand a phased and timetabled programme of demilitarisation of society. The message is clear - Mr Blair must face down his generals and remove the apparatus of war from our country.
"We need the removal of the legislation which allows the British to unilaterally suspend the institutions to ensure that the situation of last year can never be repeated.
"And finally we need action to ensure that David Trimble's refusal to nominate Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brún to the All-Ireland Bodies is challenged and we want to see legislation amended to remove this veto.
"For any of this to happen we must return to the Good Friday Agreement. It is the only template upon which we can move forward. It is the only context in which the issue of arms can be dealt with to ensure that all guns are taken out of Irish politics."
